Future of health in North Devon to be discussed at council meeting

View of North Devon District Hospital

Posted on: 26 October 2018

The future of health care in North Devon will be discussed at a meeting of North Devon and Torridge councillors next month.

Following ongoing public concerns into the future provision of health care services in the district, North Devon Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee has invited local health care providers to a public meeting to discuss what the future holds for northern Devon.

The public meeting, which takes place on Thursday 15 November, will be attended by representatives of the NHS Northern, Eastern and Western Devon Clinical Commissioning Group (NewDevonCCG), Northern Devon Healthcare Trust (NDHT), Save Our Hospital Services (SOHS) and Healthwatch. Councillors will be asking those present about the key issues facing northern Devon and how healthcare providers plan to deliver efficient and effective services that meet the needs and aspirations of local residents.

Chairman of North Devon Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor John Patrinos says: “The public keeps telling me that the future of health services in our area is their biggest concern. So we have invited a range of colleagues that either run those services or have concerns about them to a special public meeting. We hope to clarify the changes we might expect so be faced with in the future so that they can be better coped with. We are looking forward to a positive and constructive discussion.”

Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Dick Jones, says: “It will be good to get all the relevant agencies together to air the concerns we have about the future of our hospital and healthcare services here in North Devon. I look forward with interest to the outcomes of the meeting.”

Torridge District Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee will also be attending the meeting.

Torridge Councillor Philip Hackett, Lead Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community Safety says: “As Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing I wholeheartedly welcome this approach of getting the right people in the same room at the same time as it is the only true way of achieving joint working. We will be able to develop continuous engagement and protocols that will lead to a “no surprises” approach that will benefit all. Good health is, after all a partnership between the individual, Local Authorities and the NHS. This is the best way of ensuring Northern Devon residents living for longer in good health, which has to be the best outcome for all.”

The council’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting takes place on Thursday 15 November at 2pm in the council’s offices at Brynsworthy Environment Centre, Barnstaple. If you would like to attend, please email kelly.stanley@northdevon.gov.uk by 12 November, as numbers will be limited.

3 comments on “Future of health in North Devon to be discussed at council meeting”